Ice pick



Sept. 24, 1940.

M. J. ZIMMER 2,215,492

ICE PICK Filed July 21, 1938 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFrlcE ICE PICK corporation of Illinois Application July 21, 1938, Serial No. 220,464

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a cap adapted to be mounted on the butt end of handles for tools and is especially applicable to a handle for an ice pick or the like, in the use of which the butt end of the handle is frequently employed for cracking and shattering a piece of ice.

It is an object of this invention to provide a handle cap with a peripheral projection with which the usual cracking of ice can be readily done without damaging the exposed portion of the handle and which at the same time provides a cap of such cross section that it will not readily roll when laid down on a sloping surface.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be apparent, this invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a top view of a handle cap embodying the features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of an ice pick, with parts in section to illustrate details of the handle cap shown in Fig. l and'the handle in completed assembly.

Reference being had to the drawing, l0 designates the handle of an ice pick or similar tool, having any suitable shape and size and being formed from any adaptable material, preferably and usually of wood. A pointed pick blade l i of conventional length and equipped with the usual shank portion is attached to the handle lfl by having the shank of the blade I l embedded in the handle ill.

The end of the handle it] adjacent the blade H is preferably shouldered as at l2, and has a ferrule l3 mounted thereon. The outer extremity of the ferrule I3 is closed by a face which covers the end of the handle l0 and through which the shank of the blade ll must pass to become embedded in said handle.

A cup shaped member or cap l5 formed of sheet metal or any other suitable material is mounted on the butt end it of the handle Ill. The internal contour of the cap I5 is preferably such as to make a driving fit on the butt end of the handle while the outside of the cap is provided with faces defining a plurality of corners extending lengthwise of the handle l0. Rigid connection between the cap l5 and the butt end l6 of the handle may be further established by of a screw l'l passed through the base of the cap E5 and embedded in the body of the handle as more clearly shown in Fig. 2.

At its lower edge or periphery, the cap l5 terminates in an annular flange l8 projecting outwardly from the body of the handle l0 and substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the handle, to provide a relatively thin edge portion IS in outwardly spaced relation to the corners of the cap extending lengthwise of the handle IS. The edge portion l9 may be treated or trimmed as shown in the drawing to present projections 20 at peripherally spaced points of the flange I8, which gives to the edge I 9 a polygonal outline with corners projecting far enough to serve as anti-rolling corners when the tool is laid down on a sloping surface.

In operating the tool for severing portions of ice from a larger cake, the butt end of the handle l0 readily fits the palm of the users hand and the flange l8 provides an undersurface against which the thumb and fingers of the hand may press to firmly gripthe handle l0 without unduly cramping the fingers.

In operating the tool for further cracking or shattering the severed portions of the larger cake of ice, the tool may be grasped by the blade H and thus the butt end of the handle equipped with the cap l5 may be employed for striking the ice. It will be apparent that the relatively thin edge l9 of the flange l8 aids in shattering the ice portion. Furthermore, the impact of the edge IS with the ice will not injure the finish of the handle [0 adjacent to the cap l5 because of the distance between the edge l9 and the body of the handle as afforded by the width of the flange I8.

From the foregoing it will be readily manifest that the handle cap provided by this invention protects the handle from injury when the butt end thereof is used for shattering severed portions of a larger cake of ice, affords a good gripping means for the hand of a user when used for severing portions from a larger cake of ice, and at the same time provides a cap of such cross section that the tool will not readily roll when deposited on a sloping surface.

It will be obvious that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art in the details of the construction illustrated in the drawing and described in detail above within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

What is claimed iszi In an ice pick, the combination with a handle comprising a leading end and arelatively enlarged butt end, a pick blade having a shank portion embedded in and projecting forwardly from said leading end of the handle, a cap of sheet metal or the like having an internal contour adapted to make a tight fit on the butt end of the handle to form a striking head, and means presenting a relatively sharp edge of polygonal outline in proximity to said striking head comprising an annular flange projecting laterally and outwardly from the forward edge of said cap.

MYRON J. ZIMMER. 

